As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, stakeholders have urged authorities to adopt a proactive approach to artificial intelligence (AI), emphasising both its potential to improve electoral processes and the risks it poses for misinformation and voter manipulation.
The warning came during a roundtable on “AI Governance, Democracy and Accountability in Nigeria”, organised by the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) in Abuja. The event, themed “Bridging the Governance Gap Between AI, Elections and Accountability in Nigeria,” examined how emerging technologies could reshape democratic participation and the electoral landscape.
PPDC Chief Executive Officer Lucy Abagi highlighted that AI could enhance the efficiency and credibility of elections, but stressed the importance of including rural and digitally marginalised communities in the process.
“It is not just about organisations using AI. We must ensure that grassroots communities also understand and benefit from these innovations,” Abagi said, noting that recommendations from the roundtable would be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to support reforms.
She also pointed out that the adoption of technology in elections is not new. “If INEC were not adopting technology, we would not have BVAS or IReV. These are steps towards improving electoral credibility,” she added, referring to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing portal.
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While acknowledging the benefits of AI, stakeholders at the meeting raised concerns about its misuse. Organiser Vivian Akagha warned that AI-generated content, including manipulated videos and misinformation, could sway voter perception, particularly in communities with limited access to verified information.
“I realised that grassroots people who are not properly informed do not always have access to the right information to make insightful decisions about who to vote for,” Akagha said.
Experts also called for stronger public education, digital literacy initiatives, and mechanisms to hold political actors accountable for the misuse of AI during elections. Jemila Mohammed Dahiru, a lecturer at the University of Abuja, described AI as a double-edged sword: capable of improving processes if used ethically, but equally capable of distorting democracy if left unchecked.
“The conversation revealed that there are a lot of efforts in place, and AI itself can strengthen processes and probably push for better results,” Dahiru said.
The roundtable concluded that balancing innovation with safeguards is critical. Stakeholders emphasised that Nigeria’s future elections could benefit from AI through improved efficiency, transparency, and accessibility, but only if citizens are empowered to critically engage with information and authorities implement measures to mitigate misuse.
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